A network switch connects devices on a computer network and directs data toward its intended destination. This lesson introduces switching, MAC addresses, and the difference between a switch and a repeater hub.
A network switch is hardware that connects devices and uses packet switching to receive and forward data. Devices such as computers, printers, and access points connect to switch ports using network cables. The switch helps data reach the appropriate device rather than unnecessarily sending it everywhere.
All flashcards
What is a network switch?
A networking device that connects devices and forwards received data toward the port or ports that can reach the intended destination.
What does a Layer-2 switch learn?
It learns which MAC addresses are reachable through which ports and records those associations in a MAC address table.
How does a hub handle incoming data?
A repeater hub repeats incoming data out of its other ports without learning destination MAC addresses or selecting a destination port.
What is a collision domain on a switch?
It is a segment where transmissions could interfere. Each switch port forms a separate collision domain.
What is micro-segmentation?
A network arrangement in which each device connects to its own dedicated switch port and therefore has a separate collision domain.
Quiz questions
What may a switch do when it receives a frame whose destination MAC address is not in its table?Answer: Flood the frame out other ports so the destination can be reached.
What kind of address can a multilayer switch use for Layer-3 forwarding?Answer: An IP address.
How does Spanning Tree Protocol prevent Layer-2 switching loops?Answer: It disables forwarding on selected links to form a loop-free active topology.
How does cut-through switching reduce forwarding latency?Answer: It starts forwarding after examining enough of the frame header to choose an outgoing port.
What is characteristic of an unmanaged switch?Answer: It generally offers plug-and-play operation without user-adjustable management options.
Based on the Wikipedia article Network switch, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.